We Speak Entertainment
‘Insecure’ Director to Adapt Man Booker Prize-Winning Novel for Amazon Studios
Marlon James is writing the adaptation of ‘A Brief History of Seven Killings’ with Jill Soloway, Eric Roth and Malcolm Spellman on board as executive producers.
Melina Matsoukas, chief director of the HBO series Insecure, is tackling an adaptation of the award-winning Marlon James novel A Brief History of Seven Killings for Amazon Studios.
Matsoukas is developing the project as a series and will executive produce as well as direct the episodes. Teaming with her is James, who will write the script as well as executive produce, while Malcolm Spellman, a writer and co-executive producer on Empire, will be the showrunner and exec produce as well.
Seven Killings begins with the attempted assassination of reggae icon Bob Marley and explores its aftermath, looking at one vital day in multiple time periods. The novel looked at Jamaican politics, poverty, race, class and the volatile relationship between the U.S. and the Caribbean, and traced the connection between CIA efforts to destabilize a left-wing Jamaican government in the 1970s to the brutal realities of gang wars in the Kingston ghettos and their spread to New York in the 1980s.
“A Brief History of Seven Killings is a complex story that needs to be told, about a people whose voices need to be heard,” Matsoukas said Monday in a statement. “It’s been my dream to bring this story to life onscreen since reading the first line of Marlon’s book. I am deeply honored to be entrusted with this tapestry of stories so entrenched in roots, reggae, race, mysticism and politics, while working alongside Marlon to ensure an authentic portrayal of his words.”
Other big names involved with the project include Transparent creator Jill Soloway and her Topple Productions partner Andrea Sperling, who are exec producing. Eric Roth, who wrote Forrest Gump as well as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is also exec producing.
Carly Kahane will oversee the series for Topple.
Matsoukas made a name for herself in the video world directing spots for Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga. However, she has quickly become highly sought-after for both television and film with her work on Insecure. She has also directed episodes of Netflix’s Master of None.
Matsoukas is repped by CAA, MXN Entertainment and attorney Bianca Levin of Gang, Tyre. James is repped by UTA and Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group.
We Speak Entertainment
“To Love Is To Perform”: Jada Di’Larosa’s Poetic Meditation on Love, Identity, and Solitude
On April 17, 2026, independent artist Jada Di’Larosa introduces a deeply evocative new chapter in her creative journey with the release of To Love Is To Perform. Emerging from the rich cultural undercurrent of New Orleans, Di’Larosa delivers a project that feels intimate, cinematic, and emotionally unguarded—an album that quietly lingers long after the final note fades.
Blending elements of alternative, indie, and nu-jazz, the record is less about traditional structure and more about atmosphere and emotional storytelling. It unfolds like a series of late-night reflections—soft, immersive, and deeply personal. Each track carries a sense of stillness, where restraint becomes a powerful artistic choice, allowing listeners to fully absorb the subtle complexities within her sound.
Between the Spotlight and the Shadows
Jada Di’Larosa’s artistry is shaped by a compelling dual existence. As a professional dancer and showgirl, her nights are filled with performance, light, and spectacle. Yet beyond the stage, she retreats into solitude—writing music that mirrors her introspective nature. This contrast is the emotional backbone of To Love Is To Perform, where themes of identity, vulnerability, and perception are explored with striking honesty.
Rather than presenting a polished, conventional album, Di’Larosa embraces imperfection. The project carries the raw essence of demos—unfiltered, organic, and alive. In her own words, it is “a diary” of her experiences, offering a glimpse into a world that is both quietly glamorous and deeply introspective. That authenticity gives the album its emotional weight, transforming it into something profoundly human.
Sound as Atmosphere, Silence as Language
Musically, the album is guided by minimalism and mood. Piano and violin arrangements intertwine with her haunting vocal delivery, creating a soundscape that feels almost suspended in time. Di’Larosa’s voice is uniquely her own—delicate yet assured, drifting through each composition with a poetic cadence that enhances the storytelling.
Tracks such as “showgirl” and “movie star” reflect the tension between persona and reality, while “bayou st. john” grounds the album in a sense of place and memory. The title track, “to love is to perform,” offers a philosophical lens on relationships, suggesting that love itself can be an act shaped by roles and expectations. Meanwhile, “costume” emerges as a defining moment—an exploration of identity, illusion, and the masks we wear.
Tracklist
- showgirl
- movie star
- bayou st. john
- to love is to perform
- candy
- blackbird
- spinster
- a love noir
- costume
- curtain call
A Quietly Powerful Artistic Statement
What makes To Love Is To Perform so compelling is its refusal to conform. It does not chase trends or demand attention—it invites it. The album thrives in its subtlety, rewarding listeners who are willing to slow down and engage with its emotional depth.
There is a cinematic quality throughout the record, as if each track is a scene from an unseen film—rich with symbolism, mood, and introspection. It’s an experience designed not just to be heard, but to be felt.
Defining Her Own Space
In an industry often driven by visibility and constant output, Jada Di’Larosa stands apart through intentional distance and artistic focus. She allows her work to speak on her behalf, cultivating a sense of mystery that only enhances her presence.
With To Love Is To Perform, she offers more than music—she offers perspective. It is a body of work that explores the delicate balance between who we are and who we present to the world, capturing the beauty and complexity of both.
As the release date approaches, the album positions Di’Larosa as a distinctive voice in contemporary alternative jazz—an artist unafraid to embrace vulnerability, ambiguity, and the quiet power of self-expression.
Connect with Jada Di’Larosa
Official Website: www.jadadilarosa.com
Instagram: @jada.dilarosa
Available on Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube
For inquiries: jadadilarosa@yahoo.com
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